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Thursday, 27 October 2011

PAEPARD: ARD funding opportunities

The European Commission invites research proposals in the theme of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology. All topics are open to third-country (non-EU) participation, including with International Cooperation Partner Countries. Cooperation with developing countries is foreseen for research on zoonotic diseases, biowaste, insect protein, global food safety, etc. (Identifier: FP7-KBBE-2012-6-singlestage.) The closing date for applications is 15 November 2011.

Africa specific slides, aim to provide researchers working in Africa with a brief overview of the content of the FP7 2012 work programme and the current calls, and highlight some specific topics which may be of particular interest.

West African Agricultural Productivity Research and Development (WAAPRD)
Dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies across countries in West Africa (DATWA). The World Bank, within the framework of its Action Plan for “Scaling-up Support for African Agriculture” is supporting the ECOWAS conceived West Africa Agriculture Productivity Program (WAAPP). This competitive grant call therefore calls for project concept notes that innovatively link research and development in order to accelerate the dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies and innovations across countries in West Africa. Submission of Project Concept Notes (PCN): Deadline is 13th November, 2011 See call in FRENCHand ENGLISH

Nutrition Third World
The present call aims at supporting research to optimize local food sources. This could be applying conservation techniques and developing new food items that can be used to improve the diet. The objective is to find ways to improve overall dietary quality. Deadline: 25 January 2012

EC - Food Security, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The European Commission invites proposals for its food security program in the DRC, organized into three components. The program aims to: (i) build capacity of local production and marketing of agriculture, livestock, and fisheries to supply urban markets; (ii) improve the nutritional status of children; and (iii) develop and expand agroforestry for charcoal production, carbon sequestration, and other environmental benefits. Eligibility extends to non-governmental organizations in the EU, its candidate countries, the European Economic Area, and DRC and other developing countries -- and to inter-governmental organizations. Projects will range from €1.5 million to €10 million (variable by component). Reference EuropeAid/131530/L/ACT/CD. The application deadline is 17 November 2011.

EC - Food Security, Madagascar.
The European Commission is open to proposals for its food security program in Madagascar. The main objective is to improve agricultural productivity and diversification, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Eligibility extends to non-governmental organizations in the EU; its candidate countries; the European Economic Area; and Madagascar and other developing countries -- and to inter-governmental organizations. Projects will range from €800 thousand to €1.5 million. Reference EuropeAid/131530/L/ACT/CD. The application deadline is 15 November 2011.

Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)
PEER is a joint program of USAID and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to support scientists in developing countries in research and capacity-building. Topics of interest include food security (agriculture, fisheries, and plant genomics), and environment (e.g., water sustainability, hydrology, ocean acidification, climate process and modeling, environmental engineering, disaster mitigation, biodiversity, and renewable energy). In addition to these thematic programs, PEER has country programs for Indonesia, Lebanon, and the Philippines. PEER is open to institutions in developing countries that partner with an NSF-funded collaborator at a U.S. institution. The deadline for applications is 30 November 2011.

BREAD 2012.
The National Science Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are partners in BREAD (Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development). Projects in BREAD must connect the outcomes of the research and its relevance and potential application to agriculture in the developing world. Especially encouraged are proposals that address constraints to the productivity of crops important to smallholder farmers, or on the development of novel and efficient production practices. Full proposals are due 22 November 2011.

African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)
Three Active Funding Windows. The AECF offers grants and loans to support businesses in Africa working in agriculture, financial services, renewable energy, and technologies for adapting to climate change. AECF announces three current funding competitions: (i) Agribusiness Africa; (ii) Renewable Energy and Adapting to Climate Technologies (REACT) -- Round 2; and (iii) South Sudan. Eligibility extends to for-profit businesses anywhere in the world if their activities are carried out in Africa (specifically South Sudan in the third case). The application deadline for each of the funding windows is 15 December 2011.

Partnerships in Higher Education & Research for Development 2012.
The Austrian Partnership Program in Higher Education & Research for Development (APPEAR) aims to strengthen institutional capacities in higher education, research, and management. Thematic areas include water supply and sanitation, rural development, energy, environment, and natural resources (among others). Partnerships are prepared collaboratively between institutions in Austria with institutions in Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestinian Territories, Senegal, and Uganda. Partnerships are for up to two years. The deadline for submissions is 31 December 2011.

International Foundation for Science -- Re-Opens for Applications.
The IFS has re-opened for applications, following a period of programmatic review. IFS makes grants of up to US$12 thousand for research projects of 1-3 years in the sustainable management of biological resources (e.g., agriculture, soil science, forestry, biodiversity, environmental chemistry, natural products, food science, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, aquaculture, and marine resources). Applications are invited from citizens of developing countries who are less than age 40 (with some exceptions, by world regions); at the beginning of their research careers; and who have at least a university master's degree. The next deadline is 29 January 2012.Awards, Courses, and Training 2012-2013.
The French-language universities of Belgium will award 150 scholarships and 70 training grants in 2012-2013 to applicants from developing countries through Belgium's University Commission for Development (CUD -- Commission universitaire pour le Développement). Subjects include aquaculture; tropical animal and plant resources; environmental management; management of natural hazards; and others. Eligibility requirements are defined by age, previous education, and nationality. The application deadline is 13 February 2012.

B I O D I V E R S I T YFP7 ENVIRONMENT 2012.
The European Commission invites research proposals in the theme of Environment (including Climate Change). The emphasis is on research to improve the protection and management of natural resources (land, water, air, and marine resources). All topics are open to third-country (non-EU) participation, including with International Cooperation Partner Countries. The closing date for applications is 15 November 2011

Bioversity International -- Fellowships in Agricultural Genetic Resources 2012.
The Vavilov-Frankel Fellowships support young researchers in themes of conserving and using genetic resources in agriculture. Applicants are researchers in low and middle-income countries who are under age 35. Funding is up to US$20 thousand for research projects lasting up to one year. The closing date for applications (English, French, or Spanish) is 06 November 2011.

Land Deal Politics Initiative (LDPI)
Call for Applications 2011-2012. The LDPI offers small grants to carry out original field research, provide follow-up to ongoing initiatives, and write papers on subjects related to the "global land grab." The research should be original, relevant to policy, and be based on detailed and case-specific field studies. Grants are up to US$3 thousand. The application deadline is 15 December 2011.

2011 Young Environmental Journalist Award for Africa.
UNEP makes awards to young African journalists who provide new insights, challenge established thinking, and enhance public understanding of the environment in Africa. The competition is open to African journalists -- between 21 and 35 years old -- who are based in Africa. The winner receives a trip to the USA to meet other journalists, environmental organizations, scientists, and others. Applications are due 16 December 2011.

New England Biolabs Foundation -- Grassroots Conservation.
The Foundation makes grants to grassroots and charitable organizations to support conservation of biological diversity; ecosystem services; community food security; and marine environment. The geographical scope focuses on selected countries of the Gulf of Honduras; the Andean region; and West Africa (in addition to Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Nicaragua, and El Salvador). Maximum grant size is US$10 thousand, but most grants are smaller. The next deadline for letters of inquiry is 15 February 2012.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E

New Zealand Fund for Global Partnerships in Livestock Emissions Research
The Fund is aimed at accelerating global research into mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral livestock farming. The Fund is open to international scientists, and it is hoped that multi-stakeholder/country consortia bids will be put forward. Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 7 November 2011.

Research on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock.
The New Zealand Fund for Global Partnerships in Livestock Emissions Research is an international research fund set up by New Zealand to support the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Gases. Project leaders can be from New Zealand or another country of the Global Research Alliance; projects should include at least one researcher from New Zealand. The international participants need to contribute co-funding. Specific themes of the research are outlined in the grants announcement. In Round 1, projects are expected to be in the range of NZ$1-4 million over four years. Expressions of interest should be submitted by 07 November 2011.

Climate Change Research 2012.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation offers International Climate Protection Fellowships for one-year research projects in Germany on climate protection and resource conservation. The program is open to prospective future leaders in academia, business, and administration in non-European threshold and developing countries (listed in the announcement). The Foundation aims to make 20 grants per year. In the current cycle, the closing date for applications is 15 December 2011.

Development Research 2012.
Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds research on climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries (among other themes). Research projects are managed by collaborations of Danish and South-based research institutions, with a priority on institutions in Africa. Applications must be submitted by organizations based in Denmark. Grants will range from 5-10 million DKK per project. The deadline for Phase I applications is 12 December 2011.

International Climate Initiative.
Germany's BMU (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety) funds the International Climate Initiative (ICI) to support international projects on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity projects with climate relevance. Projects target carbon sinks with high levels of biodiversity (e.g., Amazon region, Congo Basin, and South-East Asia). Outlines for projects beginning in 2012 may be submitted to the Programme Office until 9 January 2012.

Echoing Green
Echoing Green helps emerging social entrepreneurs with grants of seed capital and technical assistance to support their start-up organizations. Past grants include several that address renewable energy, waste management, smallholder farming, and other societal challenges of developing countries. Applicants can be citizens of any nationality, and their organizations can be based in any country. The fellowships are US$60 thousand for individuals (and US$90 thousand for 2-person partnerships) over two years. Applications are submitted between 05 December 2011 and 09 January 2012.